Part 5<\/b><\/p>\n
10.30am, Christmas Day, 1998\u2026<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
Linking her fingers together above her head, Cordelia stretched, working out the kinks in her pleasantly aching muscles. She had woken a few minutes earlier to find herself alone in Angel\u2019s king-size bed. The vampire was nowhere to be seen but, as she could hear the faint sound of classical music drifting up from downstairs, she wasn\u2019t worried by his absence.<\/p>\n
Pulling back the covers, she swung her feet over the edge of the bed and padded barefoot into the bathroom, where she pinned her hair messily atop her head and took a quick but invigorating shower. After drying herself off, she brushed her teeth and pulled on her silk robe, before finally making her way downstairs to join her boyfriend.<\/p>\n
Angel was seated in an armchair, his bare feet propped up on a small footstool, and his head bent over the sketchpad in his lap. He looked up with a warm smile when he heard her footsteps on the stairs. \u201cHey sleepyhead,\u201d he greeted her. \u201cMerry Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMerry Christmas to you too,\u201d Cordelia said, perching on the arm of his chair. She bent to kiss him. \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you wake me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted a few hours peace and quiet,\u201d the vampire replied, perfectly straight-faced until his girlfriend punched him in the chest with an indignant \u201cHey!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRelax \u2013 I was joking!\u201d he said, wrapping his big hand around the nape of her neck and drawing her down for another kiss.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo – can I open my present now?\u201d the seer asked excitedly as soon as they drew apart.<\/p>\n
Angel laughed at her childlike enthusiasm. \u201cYou were one of those kids who got up at the crack of dawn every Christmas morning, weren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia nodded, her hazel eyes shining with eager anticipation. \u201cSo \u2013 can I?\u201d she repeated her question.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know – have you been a good girl this year?\u201d he teased.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel\u2026\u201d she whined, her bottom lip jutting out into an exaggerated pout.<\/p>\n
The vampire caved in. \u201cGo on then \u2013 I put them under the tree.\u201d<\/p>\n
With a girlish squeal, Cordelia scampered over to the small Christmas tree to retrieve the two brightly wrapped packages. With her treasures clutched tightly in her hands, she quickly rejoined him on the other side of the room and climbed into his lap.<\/p>\n
After handing him one of the boxes, she began to tear the paper off her own present with undisguised relish, finally revealing a square cardboard box filled to the brim with tissue paper. Reaching inside, she carefully removed the spherical object that it contained and lifted it up in front of her face to study it.<\/p>\n
It was a Christmas bauble \u2013 made entirely of wood and hand-painted with an old-fashioned Christmas scene. A red velvet ribbon was secured to the top, while the surface was heavily varnished to seal in and protect the picture from damage.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s beautiful,\u201d she breathed. \u201cIt looks really old.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is \u2013 my mother painted it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo that\u2019s where you got your artistic talent from, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I guess it is. I took it from the house after\u2026,\u201d Angel broke off, unable to say the words. \u201cIt was a trophy back then, I suppose, but now\u2026 I want you to have it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure? I mean, it\u2019s like a family heirloom or something. You should keep it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. I always loved it as a child – I remember watching my mother paint it, seeing the scene come to life before my eyes. It was something that brought me real joy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThose memories were pretty much destroyed by what I did after Darla turned me though. I can never forgive myself for that but I want this\u2026\u201d the vampire tapped the bauble, making it slowly spin, \u201cTo have the right kind of memories associated with it again. Giving it to you seems like the perfect way to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia nodded, her eyes misty with emotion. \u201cI\u2019ll treasure it, I promise,\u201d she said solemnly, cupping the side of his face in her hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know you will,\u201d Angel replied, and then turned his attention to his own present. \u201cNow what do we have here?\u201d<\/p>\n
In contrast to Cordelia\u2019s enthusiastic unveiling of her present, Angel unwrapped his with slow, deliberate precision, taking care not to tear the paper too much. Inside he found a tin of coloured pencils, containing every shade you could possibly think of. He recognised the brand name \u2013 he used their products on a regular basis because they were quality art suppliers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI bought you some art stuff before,\u201d Cordelia explained. \u201cBut I never got to give it to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou didn\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo \u2013 courtesy of Vocah and the never-ending vision.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s expression immediately darkened as he remembered that bleak time, and Cordelia reached out to smooth out his furrowed brow with two gentle fingers.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey! None of that, Broody faces are not allowed – it\u2019s Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n
The vampire smiled and Cordelia nodded in approval. \u201cThat\u2019s better. I know you only usually draw in black and white, but I reckon it\u2019s about time you created something with colour in it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel grinned. \u201cYou\u2019re obsessed with bringing colour into my life, you know that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that\u2019s a bad thing?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo \u2013 it\u2019s a good thing. Just don\u2019t expect me to start wearing white suits or something.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEww no! That\u2019s *so* 1970s. No, the black with colour look suits you just fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGlad to hear it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you like them? The pencils, I mean. I guess they\u2019re kind of a lame present compared to what you got for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, no, they\u2019re great. Honestly,\u201d he added off Cordelia\u2019s doubtful look. \u201cYou\u2019re right; I should expand my repertoire a bit. Creativity gets stale if you don\u2019t push your boundaries a little.\u201d<\/p>\n
The seer relaxed, reassured. \u201cSo when do I get breakfast?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s food in the kitchen. Go help yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNobody makes eggs and toast like you do,\u201d Cordelia said hopefully, fluttering her eyelashes at him.<\/p>\n
Angel rolled his eyes and stood up with his girlfriend nestled in his strong arms. \u201cYou\u2019re going to be the death of me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo \u2013 I think Darla was that,\u201d Cordelia retorted, sticking her tongue out at him.<\/p>\n
The vampire laughed. \u201cI meant metaphorically speaking,\u201d he said as he carried her through into the kitchen.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Buffy put the phone down with a worried frown.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you okay honey?\u201d her Mom asked, noticing the concerned look on her daughter\u2019s face.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the second time I\u2019ve called Angel to wish him Happy Christmas and there\u2019s still no answer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe he\u2019s sleeping. Vampires don\u2019t keep the same hours as us, do they?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess but he should be awake by now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTry again in another hour,\u201d Joyce advised. \u201cIf he doesn\u2019t answer then, you can go over to see if he\u2019s all right. I wouldn\u2019t worry too much \u2013 Angel seems perfectly capable of taking care of himself.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI suppose,\u201d Buffy reluctantly conceded.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo can I do anything to help?\u201d she asked. At Joyce\u2019s insistence, they were having all her friends over for dinner later on that day.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou could peel those potatoes,\u201d her Mom said, pointing to the mountain of vegetables on the counter-top.<\/p>\n
Buffy wrinkled her nose in distaste, wishing she hadn\u2019t volunteered. She *hated* peeling potatoes.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cHave you seen \u2018Titanic\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel looked up at Cordelia\u2019s question. \u201cYeah, I was in Southampton when she launched.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot the ship, dumbass \u2013 the movie!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet?\u201d she asked impatiently.<\/p>\n
Angel looked at her blankly and she sighed. \u201cNever mind, it\u2019s not important that you\u2019ve seen it. They play two passengers on the Titanic \u2013 he\u2019s a poor, struggling artist, and she\u2019s a young woman of high society engaged to this \u2013 like – billionaire. Only she doesn\u2019t love him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me guess \u2013 they meet and fall in love across the class divide.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPretty much, yeah.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cClich\u00e9-ridden pap then,\u201d Angel decided.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat and you and Buffy weren\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n
The vampire looked at her reprovingly and she grinned cheekily. \u201cSorry, couldn\u2019t resist. Anyway back to the point\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a point? Well, I\u2019ll be damned.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re so not funny, Mr Comedian. Anyway, there\u2019s this scene, just before the ice-berg hits, when Rose\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKate Winslet.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh – right.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAsks Jack\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLeonardo Di-whatshisname.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWill you stop interrupting?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel laughed. \u201cSorry \u2013 go on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank-you. Anyhow, Rose asks Jack to draw her \u2018like one of his French girls.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA nude portrait.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, apart from the \u2018Heart of the Ocean\u2019 \u2013 a supremely expensive diamond necklace.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkaay…\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I don\u2019t have a diamond necklace,\u201d Cordelia said coyly. \u201cBut I can be a French girl.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel\u2019s eyes widened as he realised what she was hinting at. \u201cYou want me to draw you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUh-huh,\u201d the seer nodded, lowering her eyelashes and toying with the tie on her robe. \u201cWill you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel considered. Nobody had sat for him for years; he always drew from memory. The idea was tempting though, especially as it was obviously intended as foreplay. \u201cYou\u2019ll have to stay still,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay then,\u201d he said, reaching for his sketchpad and the tin of coloured pencils that Cordelia had given him earlier.<\/p>\n
He looked up at her expectantly, and she smiled rather shyly as she slowly untied the belt of her robe. Shrugging her shoulders, she let the silk garment slither off her body so that she was standing completely nude before him.<\/p>\n
\u201cLie on the couch,\u201d he instructed softly.<\/p>\n
Cordelia did as asked, arranging herself with her left arm bent over her head and her right hand next to her cheek. Unbeknownst to Angel, it was the pose in the movie. It worked for him though, so he didn\u2019t question it. Picking up a grey pencil, he flipped open his sketchpad and set to work, nibbling on his lower lip as his eyes intently studied every dip and curve of her naked body.<\/p>\n
The whole procedure was conducted in absolute silence, a state of affairs that only added to the eroticism of the moment. Angel suppressed a smile as Cordelia\u2019s raggedy breathing filled his ears, delighted with how much this was turning her on. Her cheeks were flushed pink, her pupils dilated and her moist lips parted in arousal. As his gaze travelled over her nude form, she shifted slightly, rubbing her thighs together in an obvious attempt to quell the growing ache at her centre.<\/p>\n
It took him nearly an hour to complete the picture and, by that time, his own body was buzzing with arousal that desperately needed to be assuaged. Setting his sketchpad aside, he crossed to the couch and held out his hand to help Cordelia to her feet. Cupping her face in his palms, he bent and kissed her upturned lips, and then took her hand and led her up the stairs\u2026<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cBuffy, maybe this isn\u2019t such a good idea,\u201d Giles said worriedly as he drew his car to a stop outside Angel\u2019s mansion.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiles! You know what he just went through with the First. He hasn\u2019t been answering my calls \u2013 I\u2019m worried about him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since Christmas Eve, Giles had been debating whether or not to tell Buffy what Sarah had said about Angel and Cordelia. On the one hand, he figured she had a right to know, but on the other, he knew it wasn\u2019t right to break her heart without being sure of his facts. He hardly approved of his slayer\u2019s choice of boyfriend, but he was simply incapable of causing her unnecessary pain.<\/p>\n
Now though, he was beginning to wish that he\u2019d said something because he had the horrible feeling that they were about to walk in on Buffy\u2019s worst nightmare. To make matters worse, they had brought an audience to witness the whole event \u2013 Willow and Xander had come along for the ride. Other than be there to support her though, there was nothing much he could do to avert the impending disaster.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello!\u201d Buffy called as she pushed open the door to the mansion. There was no answer.<\/p>\n
The downstairs living space was deserted, although there was evidence of recent inhabitation. \u201cI\u2019m going to see if he\u2019s upstairs in his room,\u201d Buffy said. \u201cWait here,\u201d she instructed her friends.<\/p>\n
Giles wandered into the lounge area and absently picked up the sketchpad that lay on a small table by the armchair. The first two pages contained portraits of a woman and a man that he didn\u2019t recognise.<\/p>\n
The woman was young \u2013 in her early twenties \u2013 with long hair falling to just below her shoulders. She was wearing glasses, which made her look overly studious and partially hid her pretty features from view. The man was older but not by much, and he held himself with a certain stiffness. It was as if he was wearing an invisible suit of armour, which protected him from the unseen foes out to get him.<\/p>\n
The pictures were drawn with obvious affection, so Giles figured they must have been friends of Angel at some point in his life. He turned to the next page and his eyes nearly fell out of his head. \u201cOh my!\u201d he murmured, blushing profusely and quickly snapping the pad shut, hiding the forbidden image from view.<\/p>\n
Through his shocked surprise, it gradually dawned what his discovery meant. Cordelia Chase \u2013 in all her womanly glory \u2013 drawn by a man, who obviously knew every inch of the nude, female body that he had so lovingly recreated on paper. And Buffy was on her way to check whether Angel was in his room\u2026<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Upstairs\u2026<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
Buffy frowned at the faint sounds emanating from the master bedroom at the end of the corridor. She could have sworn she heard Angel groan a moment ago \u2013 was he in pain? A higher feminine moan reached her ears then and she stiffened in shock. What the hell?<\/i><\/p>\n
Her heart thumping inside her chest, she slowly pushed the door to the bedroom open, revealing the two figures on the bed. From her vantage point in the doorway, about all she could tell was that one was female and the other male.
\nThe mystery female was straddling the man, who sat with his back against the headboard and his hands spanning his partner\u2019s waist. The woman had her back to the door such that her naked body obscured the man from view. Her dark hair was long and cascaded in a mass of wavy curls down her back, while a tribal sun tattoo decorated the golden skin at the base of her spine.<\/p>\n
The couple were entirely focused on each other, oblivious to everything else around them as they made love with passionate intensity. Frozen to the spot, Buffy couldn\u2019t tear her eyes away from the erotic scene, and watched as the man\u2019s hands began to wander, first sweeping over the curve of his lover\u2019s bottom and then rising to tangle in her hair.<\/p>\n
The woman suddenly let out a harsh whimper, while her back arched and her movements quickened. \u201cOh, oh God Angel! So close, so close!\u201d<\/p>\n
The slayer gasped, her brain finally making the connection as she recognised the woman\u2019s voice. Unable to move, she watched in fascinated horror as her nemesis and her boyfriend reached the culmination of their shared pleasure. The declaration that Angel gasped out as he lost control, shattered her heart into a million pieces.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh God Cordy! I love you so much.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Angel and Cordelia kissed and cuddled as they slowly recovered from their high, Buffy finally regained the use of her paralysed limbs. Letting out a harsh sob, she backed out of the room, her hands rising to cover her mouth. The couple on the bed finally realised they were not alone and froze in horror.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, oh shit!\u201d Angel cursed as Buffy fled and Cordelia scrambled off him in a blind panic.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought you said she didn\u2019t come round till after Christmas!\u201d she practically screeched.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe didn\u2019t, I swear!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, oh \u2013 this is so not good. What\u2019s going to happen to the future now they know?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing! Because we\u2019re not going to let it. We\u2019re just going to have to talk to Giles and persuade him to do something to make them forget we were ever here,\u201d Angel said as he hastily pulled on his pants and threw her robe at her. \u201cCome on, we need to stop her from leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Downstairs\u2026<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
Giles looked up as Buffy hurriedly descended the stairs, tears streaming down her face.<\/p>\n
\u201cBuffy \u2013 what\u2019s wrong?\u201d Willow asked concerned.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel and\u2026 and Cordelia!\u201d Buffy choked out and fell into her best friend\u2019s arms, her sobs overwhelming her.<\/p>\n
Xander looked confused for a moment and then his eyes widened as the truth dawned. \u201cNo, no way.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes way,\u201d Willow murmured as a half-dressed Angel and Cordelia appeared at the top of the staircase.<\/p>\n
Giles felt his anger boil over. \u201cYou, you bastard! Is it really that hard to keep it in your pants?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGiles wait \u2013 you don\u2019t understand,\u201d Angel said, as calmly as he could under the circumstances. \u201cThis is not what it looks like.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot what is looks like!\u201d Buffy cried out, whirling around to face him, her blue eyes shooting fire and ice. \u201cI saw you! Both of you! How could you? And with *her*\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBuffy please! I\u2019m sorry that you had to see that, I really am. The last thing I would ever want is to hurt you. In this time and place, I loved you. I would have never cheated on you in a million years \u2013 you have to believe that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The vampire briefly broke off his narrative, and then continued with his explanation. \u201cOnly the thing is I\u2019m not from this time. Cordy and me, we got caught up in this crazy spell that put our minds in our past bodies. We\u2019re from 2001.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re lying!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I\u2019m not. I swear.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat kind of spell?\u201d Giles asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiles!\u201d Buffy glared at her watcher.<\/p>\n
\u201cBuffy \u2013 if what he\u2019s saying is true, we can\u2019t afford to ignore it. This could change the future in unexpected ways, and that\u2019s not at all advisable, believe me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was Fred,\u201d Cordelia explained. \u201cShe gave us some enchanted mistletoe and we sorta ended up back in Sunnydale.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe book in the Library \u2013 it was you,\u201d Giles realised.<\/p>\n
Angel nodded. \u201cThe effects only last 72 hours \u2013 that\u2019s why we were hiding out here. I wasn\u2019t expecting any visitors, it didn\u2019t happen before.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBuffy tried to call you but she couldn\u2019t get through,\u201d Giles explained, walking across the room. \u201cI\u2019m guessing this is why,\u201d he said, holding up the disconnected phone-cord.<\/p>\n
Angel and Cordelia exchanged a telling look. \u201cOops!\u201d the seer said, her face turning the shade of a ripe tomato.<\/p>\n
\u201cUh-oh \u2013 bad thoughts, bad thoughts,\u201d Xander mumbled under his breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cShut up Xander,\u201d Buffy hissed furiously and then turned to Angel. \u201cOkay, so say I believe you. That still doesn\u2019t explain her,\u201d she said, pointing an accusing finger at Cordelia.<\/p>\n
Angel sighed and ran his hands through his hair. \u201cBuffy \u2013 we split up before you graduate. I moved to LA shortly afterwards.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUmm,\u201d Willow said, diffidently holding up her hand. \u201cIf you two are like \u2013 well, you know \u2013 shouldn\u2019t we be worried about Angelus making an appearance?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell *obviously* she doesn\u2019t have what it takes to make him perfectly happy,\u201d Buffy said cattily.<\/p>\n
\u201cI so do!\u201d Cordelia stormed, her hazel eyes flashing. \u201cI\u2019ll have you know that he chose to be with me, not you when his soul became permanent.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo there!\u201d she added, childishly sticking her tongue out at the furious slayer.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy, this isn\u2019t helping,\u201d Angel said, placing a gentling hand on his girlfriend\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour soul is permanent?\u201d Giles asked incredulously.<\/p>\n
Angel nodded. \u201cYes \u2013 as of two weeks ago anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley found a way to bypass the perfect happiness clause in his curse,\u201d Cordelia explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, you\u2019re gonna meet him very soon. He\u2019s Buffy\u2019s watcher for a little while. You get sacked for breaking the watcher\u2019s code or something.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWesley Wyndam-Pryce?\u201d Giles asked, aghast.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou already know him? You never acted like you did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve never met but I have heard of him,\u201d Giles told her before turning back to Angel. \u201cAnd now he\u2019s helping you \u2013 a vampire?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel nodded, his lips curling up into an ironic smile. \u201cThe world moves in mysterious ways, I guess. He\u2019s one of my closest friends. He runs the detective agency I own.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCome again?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel Investigations,\u201d Cordelia said proudly. \u201cI designed the logo and everything. We deal with everything from demon infestations to deciphering prophecies, not to mention the cases sent to us from the Powers That Be.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have a link to the Powers That Be?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel nodded. \u201cThat\u2019s what I do now. I met Doyle \u2013 a half-demon seer – a few months after I moved to LA. I ran into Cordy on the first vision quest that he sent me on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe saved me from this creepy vamp, who wanted to make me his next meal,\u201d Cordelia interjected. \u201cAngel so kicked his ass.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter that, the three of us set up Angel Investigations. Wesley joined us several months later – a few weeks after Doyle died.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd now we have Gunn and Fred on the payroll too,\u201d Cordelia added helpfully.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd your link to the Powers That Be?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia smiled and gave a little wave, causing Giles\u2019 eyes to widen in amazement.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoyle decided to pass his visions onto her,\u201d Angel explained. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t exactly the best decision he ever made.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHey!\u201d Cordelia protested and punched him on the upper arm.<\/p>\n
Angel laughed, and then his expression turned serious again. \u201cLook \u2013 we\u2019re getting off the point here. The mistletoe spell will reverse itself tomorrow morning. You cannot remember we were here \u2013 it would be a disaster.\u201d<\/p>\n
Giles nodded. \u201cI agree \u2013 I think I know of a memory-altering spell we can use. Willow shouldn\u2019t have any problems with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel nodded, relieved. \u201cGood, that\u2019s settled then.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNO!\u201d Buffy protested. She had been silent throughout the whole exchange but now decided to assert her authority. \u201cYou expect me to willingly forget that my boyfriend cheated on me with *her*\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe has a name, Buffy,\u201d Angel said sharply. \u201cAnd I didn\u2019t cheat on you.\u201d<\/p>\n
He reached out and caught her elbow in his right hand. \u201cCome on \u2013 we need to talk.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not giving her a chance to object, he towed her across the room to the basement stairs and they disappeared from view, leaving the rest of them standing around in an awkward silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cUmm \u2013 I\u2019m just going to change into something less comfortable,\u201d Cordelia said with a blush. \u201cYou can make yourselves a drink if you want. We have coffee, tea or hot chocolate. I think there\u2019s some soda too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGot anything to eat?\u201d Xander asked.<\/p>\n
Cordelia smiled her wide beautiful smile. \u201cYou never change, do you Xander?\u201d<\/p>\n
The boy was startled to hear his ex-girlfriend\u2019s voice vibrating with nostalgic affection, and he shifted uncomfortably. \u201cWell, obviously you have.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I have. Quite a bit actually.\u201d<\/p>\n
Xander nodded, not really knowing what to say. \u201cI guess you do eventually forgive me then,\u201d he ventured.<\/p>\n
\u201cEventually. Oh and bucko? My face is up here, not at chest height,\u201d she said, catching him ogling her breasts that were barely concealed by the thin robe she wore.<\/p>\n
Xander\u2019s eyes immediately snapped back up to her face and she raised her eyebrows at him, trying not to laugh.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think there are some cookies in the tin on the counter \u2013 help yourself,\u201d she called over her shoulder as she started up the stairs.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
In the basement\u2026<\/i><\/p>\n
Angel sat down on the basement steps as Buffy paced up and down in front of him, making him dizzy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t believe you would do something like this,\u201d she suddenly burst out.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t,\u201d the vampire replied. \u201cBut it\u2019s been three years, people move on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou leave me?\u201d the slayer\u2019s voice was thick with tears.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was for the best. I still believe that. We couldn\u2019t make it work. Deep down inside you already know there\u2019s no future for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy shook her head in denial. \u201cNo, I don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, you do,\u201d Angel insisted. \u201cWe both knew \u2013 we just didn\u2019t want to accept it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you did?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEventually yes. Don\u2019t think that it wasn\u2019t the hardest decision that I\u2019ve ever had to make though. It took me a long time to get over you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUntil Cordelia made you forget what we meant to each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel shook his head. \u201cShe didn\u2019t make me forget \u2013 I just moved on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy her? Why Cordelia? It doesn\u2019t make any sense.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s because you don\u2019t really know her. She\u2019s not the girl she used to be here in Sunnydale. She\u2019s grown up, changed. She\u2019s been my best friend for three years now. We\u2019ve only recently become romantically involved though. Neither one of us planned on it happening, it just did \u2013 something changed while we were looking the other way.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd there\u2019s a way to make your soul permanent?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou could tell Giles and we could be properly together,\u201d the slayer said desperately. \u201cWe don\u2019t have to forget \u2013 so what if the future changes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBuffy \u2013 there is a time and place for everything. This isn\u2019t the right time for me to be given that gift. I\u2019m not ready yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want to go back to your future,\u201d the slayer said; it was not a question.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. And, before you ask, it\u2019s not just because of Cordelia, there\u2019s so much more to it than that. My life has real purpose now. I have friends, family in LA. Here in Sunnydale, I was so directionless and I felt completely out of place. My whole existence revolved around you and that wasn\u2019t a good thing. It made me kind of obsessive, not to mention seriously morose.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel broke off with a wry smile. \u201cThere\u2019s more to who I am than that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy didn\u2019t want to see it, but she couldn\u2019t deny that he had changed. The relaxed man before her oozed confidence, power even. He seemed happy and it hurt that she wasn\u2019t the one to give him that. Her shoulders slumped in defeat. \u201cYou did love me, didn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWith everything in me,\u201d Angel replied automatically, leaving her in no doubt of the sincerity of his words.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd now you love Cordelia?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d the vampire admitted quietly, not wanting to hurt her more than he already had, but incapable of lying to her either.<\/p>\n
Buffy sighed heavily. \u201cI don\u2019t pretend to understand that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not expecting you to.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess we should go and see if Giles needs any help with this forgetting spell then.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel smiled. \u201cI guess we should. Just one more thing\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy looked at him expectantly and he continued. \u201cI\u2019m really sorry about what you saw upstairs. I meant what I said \u2013 I would never do anything to deliberately hurt you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo I know? In the future, I mean \u2013 about you and Cordelia?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, not yet. It\u2019s only been two weeks. When I get back, I promise I\u2019ll tell you at the first available opportunity, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy nodded sadly. \u201cOkay. Come on \u2013 I think it\u2019s about time I returned to blissful ignorance. I don\u2019t know how much more of this I can handle. I think I want to die.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel watched her walk up the stairs ahead of him. He had forgotten how much of a drama queen she was as a teenager. Her hurt was genuine though, and he was the cause of it, so he bit his lip and didn\u2019t comment. There was no sense in making things worse than they already were.<\/p>\n
Cordelia was coming down the stairs as he re-entered the downstairs living space. She had changed into a pair of comfy sweatpants that she\u2019d bought at the mall two days ago, while her hair was tied back off her face in a loose ponytail. She was also wearing one of his shirts, which swamped her slight form, making her look positively adorable. He crossed to stand by her side but resisted the urge to touch her, not wanting to rub Buffy\u2019s nose in it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s about time we left,\u201d Giles said, taking in his slayer\u2019s pale and tear-stained face. \u201cWe\u2019ll go to the Library, do the spell, and then go home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel nodded. \u201cSounds like a plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPerhaps you better plug that phone back in,\u201d Giles suggested, one eyebrow raised.<\/p>\n
\u201cWill do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh and I think you left this behind at the Library,\u201d the watcher added, handing something to the vampire before ushering Buffy, Willow and Xander out of the door.<\/p>\n
As the door closed behind their unexpected visitors, Cordelia breathed a sigh of relief. \u201cWhat did he give you?\u201d she asked her boyfriend.<\/p>\n
Angel held up her black silk panties on the end of his forefinger and she blushed furiously. \u201cOh. My. God.\u201d<\/p>\n
The vampire laughed and strode over to the far wall to plug the phone line back in. He then moved to stand behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.<\/p>\n
Nuzzling at her neck, he spoke in her ear. \u201cHave you been following instructions?\u201d<\/p>\n
At first, Cordelia was confused until she felt his exploring fingers slip below the waistband of her sweatpants. He gently cupped her between her legs, satisfied to find her sans underwear.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s my girl,\u201d he said, nibbling on her earlobe.<\/p>\n
Cordelia closed her eyes and surrendered to his touch\u2026<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
December 26th 1998, 7am, Chase Household, Sunnydale\u2026<\/i><\/p>\n
Flushed and sweaty, Cordelia collapsed back against the pillows on her bed, breathing heavily as her heart raced ten to the dozen.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were supposed to just drop me off,\u201d she accused, as Angel rose from between her legs and grinned at her, his expression full of satisfaction.<\/p>\n
Not wanting to do anything to jeopardise their way back home, they had decided to return to the locations where they had first found themselves in Sunnydale, before the spell reversed itself.<\/p>\n
The vampire laughed as he rolled off the bed and began to dress. \u201cIf that\u2019s all I was planning to do, I wouldn\u2019t have brought you here several hours early,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re such a perv.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cQuite possibly,\u201d Angel agreed as he leant over to kiss her. \u201cI\u2019ll see you soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia nodded. \u201cWhat if\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
The vampire cut her off with a finger over her lips. \u201cWe\u2019ll deal with that if it happens,\u201d he said. \u201cNo sense in worrying about it now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to go home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMe too. We\u2019ll make it back, I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n
He kissed her again and then left, leaving her to her own devices. She took a quick shower and then lay back down on her childhood bed, watching the clock as the minutes slowly ticked by.<\/p>\n
It happened all at once, she suddenly felt dizzy and then everything went black\u2026<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
December 23rd 2001, Hyperion Hotel, Los Angeles\u2026<\/i><\/p>\n
Cordelia gasped and jumped back in shock, opening her eyes to find Angel leaning over her with a gentle smile on his face. \u201cWelcome home,\u201d he murmured.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to burn that,\u201d Cordelia said, pointing to the piece of mistletoe in his hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy thoughts exactly. It was fun, but not an experience I want to repeat in a hurry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell not in the past anyway,\u201d he said as an afterthought, winking at her suggestively.<\/p>\n
Cordelia giggled and blushed. \u201cAre we back at exactly the time we left?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSeems so.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo our past selves won\u2019t remember anything then.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess not.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo how do we know it really happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
Angel grinned and rose to his feet. Crossing to the other side of the room, he opened the closet doors and reached right to the back, pulling out a dust-covered wooden box.<\/p>\n
\u201cI brought this with me from Sunnydale,\u201d he explained as Cordelia slipped out of bed to kneel beside him on the carpeted floor. \u201cI haven\u2019t opened it for at least five years \u2013 or at least I hadn\u2019t before our time-travel trip.\u201d<\/p>\n
Undoing the rusty clasps and flipping open the lid, he drew out the bauble that he\u2019d given her as a present and a flat oblong package covered in faded Christmas paper. He handed it to Cordelia who ripped off the wrapping with her usual impatience. Inside was the portrait that he\u2019d painted of her on Christmas morning, 1998.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe perfect mementos,\u201d she said with a smile.<\/p>\n
Angel leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips. \u201cYeah, it is,\u201d he softly concurred. \u201cI love you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI love you too,\u201d Cordelia returned with heartfelt emotion.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo,\u201d Angel said, getting to his feet and holding out his hand to help her up. \u201cHow about we go strangle Fred and then enjoy Christmas with our family?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSounds like a plan to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
The End<\/b><\/p>\n
P.S.<\/b> I do actually like the movie Titanic; apart from I think the script is a little clunky in places! Oh and Angel probably wasn\u2019t in Southampton in 1912 but what the hell!<\/p>\n
Items used from the list:<\/p>\n
Bed
\nA 200-year-old Christmas decoration \u2013 my idea actually but it fit my story,
\nEnchanted mistletoe
\nHyperion
\nShopping Mall (sort of!)
\nSilk stockings
\nA portrait painted by Angel<\/p>\n
The Hotel
\nSunnydale
\nThe mansion
\nCordy’s family home in Sunnydale
\nLibrary<\/p>\n
Textures – silk<\/p>\n
Scents \u2013 oranges \u2013 among others!<\/p>\n
Flavours – Strawberry, orange<\/p>\n